Saturday, April 16, 2011

Wow what a week! Last Wednesday our grief support group had a potluck for spring break and we brought Brennan, Landon, Brooke & Daddy. Hailey was so excited to bring her family :) We realized about 15 minutes into the meeting Landon's oxygen was turned off so we turned it back on, a little higher than usual, to let him perk back up. He was still sleeping but his color was good so didn't think anything of it. After the group finished, we put everyone back in the car and when we put Landon in, he lost his color and stopped breathing. We got him back out and stimulate him and he started breathing again, fast, but steady. I rode in the back in case we needed to pat his chest again but he was doing better so we decided to head home (took the route by the hospital just in case, but he was looking good). We really were on the expressway for about 2 minutes when he did it again and went into a seizure. He lost his color, stopped breathing, his eyes shot open and he was staring, shaking and stiff. I turned up his o2 as far as it would go and was patting and shaking him but he wasn't responsive so we called 911. We got off at the next exit and met the ambulance at a gas station. They had to give him 15 liters of oxygen and breathing treatments and we ran with lights and sirens to Allegiance. They started an IV, gave him steroid and antibiotic and sent us with lights to UM. Within 45 minutes of us being there, his o2 dipped low to 52% so the doc's kept a closer eye on him. He stabilized and Nich ran out to the car for a minute and all of a sudden Landon wasn't moving any air. He wasn't breathing in - somehow his airway was swollen and they had to immediately intubate. They had a rough time and at one point his o2 saturation was down to 3% and heart rate in the 50s. They had to have him sedated so he wouldn't fight the vent (they know him all too well!) and admitted him to PICU. He was on the vent for 3 days, in ICU for 5 days and we came home on the 6th day.

So what in the world happened?!? A urinary tract infection (UTI). He spiked a fever on the ride home which sent him into a febrile seizure. This swelled his airway and threw his respiratory drive out of wack. Also, when they were trying to get a urine catheter, the balloon on the end that keeps it in place burst and 'traumatized' his urethra. Urology was able to get in a new catheter and he bled for 3 days. Crazy! He also got 2 teeth while he was in! The docs were also concerned about his airway being floppy but thankfully has checked out ok for now. We did come home with a suction that can help us get the buggers from the back of his throat. Since he has a weak cough, this will help get that junk out of his throat and he can breathe better.

This whole experience just took me back to the critical times just over a year ago. Even though he wasn't as sick, my mind went back there. I was able to stay at Ronald McDonald House (really our home away from home) and got back in the hospital swing of things. When the babies are sick, God is so near. He is still near, getting us through all these challenges, but it's really evident when I'm exhausted, out of my comfort zone and away from home. We are so thankful for the strength and comfort God can give! There's now way we'd get through all of this without Him!

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

It's that time again! March of Dimes, March for Babies is right around the corner in our community and our family is so honored to be selected as the Ambassador Family for 2011!! Please take a moment and donate if you can to support March of Dimes as they provide research to prevent premature birth, provide the best outcomes for preemies and support for families. (click the picture on the right!)

Brennan (A), Landon (B), Katelyn (C) and Brooklyn (D) just hours old!

Here's a link to show the impact March of Dimes' research had on our miracles! I also found statistics from the Quint Boenker Preemie Survival Foundation. 23 weekers have a 17% survival rate! We our confident that God has a plan for our little miracles! If it wasn't for His Hands and the knowledge he's given the doctor's, they probably would not be here.

Though we're so excited about the progress and advancements Brennan, Landon and Brooklyn have benefited from, we still remember Katelyn and the work that still needs to be done! We're proud, passionate parents of miracles and an angel!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Wow! Time is sure flying! I can't believe the babies are 18 months old! They're getting so much more fun and definitely their own personalities! Instead of photo's this month, here's video's! They're so active, I love to catch it on video!

Brennan Nicholas Birth weight 1lb 4oz, 18 months weight 17lbs 10oz

Brennan is doing great! He's had the rest of his surgeries and hopefully they'll be the last! Since his eye surgery he's been able to sit STILL (not wobbly), standing STILL and playing with toys! Hence the video! Make sure to have your sound on so you can hear Hailey's commentary! :) Before he was always licking them and kinda flicking them with his fingers, but he can focus on things now! It's so cool to see! Brennan's in the running now for walk first too! He's fearless! He doesn't quite have the one foot in the other concept but he's totally fine letting go of our hands - and falling on the floor sometimes! :) He generally just gets right back up again! Brennan's also our little garbage disposal! He's eating so good by spoon and about 8oz at a time from bottle. Brennan and Brooklyn are now drinking Pediasure instead of Neosure formula! We're mixing it half and half with milk, otherwise it's a pretty potent drink. It's definitely doing the trick and he's gaining weight! He's also keeping his glasses on much better which will help his eyes to heal right. We're working with him on crawling (not army crawling, but on his hands and knees) and going from sitting to crawling and back up again. He's going to PT & OT twice a week and Early On is coming in once a week. That heavy dose of therapy is really working! He's such a silly, happy boy and really doing great!

Landon James Birth weight 1lb 7oz 18 month weight 21lbs 3oz

Landon, Landon, Landon! Landon's still recovering from his pneumonia a bit, but he's getting more and more active! He's also getting kind of a diva personality too! He throws a mean fit, but the trouble is he really needs to breathe during his fits! He's learned to hold his breath and play games with his breathing. He's not retracting or having trouble, just sometimes holds his breath and laughs once you tickle him. Crazy kid! Really exciting news for Landon is from his neurosurgery follow up appointment - they did an MRI to check on his hydrocephalus and it's VERY well under control! Before there was probably 2 inches of empty space around this ventricles and now there's maybe 1/4 inch! His brain has filled in the rest of his skull which means his brain is growing and new connections/skills are happening! Landon has been hitting milestones like putting things in his mouth, playing with his toes, holding things with both hands and he even said mama! My heart just overflowed! The sky really is the limit with this kid! Just as Nich and I kinda get used to the idea of having a severely impaired child, he does something new! He's so much more fun to play with (not feed, but we're working on that!) and actually interacts with us! Landon's going to PT & Speech Therapy twice a week and sees Early On at home once a week. Full schedules, but so worth it!!

Brooklyn Danielle Birth weight 1lb 3.5oz 18 month weight 17lbs 13oz

Brooklyn is still quite the diva and we're working on curbing that stubborn independence towards talking and helping us understand what she wants/needs. We're working on sign language, pointing and of course talking. Once she has your undivided attention, she is an angel, but the minute she has to share or isn't getting what she wants, better watch out! It's like breaking a wild mustang! Developmentally she's pretty much on track! Even though she and Brennan are doing a lot of the same things, her skills are a little more refined. She's got a pretty good spoon feeding technique - very proper! :) We're working with her and Brennan to lose the bottle but they don't get the concept of a sippy cup. Brennan's getting better, but Brooke preers a real glass. She takes sips out of our cups very well! She's also standing by herself (leaning on something most of the time, but at least she's confident!) and motoring all over the house either pushing this toy or holding our fingers. This video was the first time she pushed the toy without needing one of us to hold on to her! She's babbling and saying some words, but we're working on comprehension. She can say dada, mama, baba, but I'm not entirely convinced she knows what they mean. She goes to OT & Speech Therapy twice a week and sees Early On at home once a week. She's doing really well with gross motor, but needs a little help with the finer things.

We continue to thank God everyday for these miracles! And you all for all your prayers that have got them to this point and carrying us all as our lives get busy and complicated! When we were in the hospital for both Brennan & Landon, it was really cool to see the reactions of staff (nurses, residents, anesthesiologists) that didn't know their histories when we told them they were 23 week surviving quadruplets! These babies really are doing well!

Enter your email here to receive emails when our blog is updated!

Join us on Facebook!

About Me

I have been married to the most amazing husband for 10 years and now absolutely enjoy being a mom. We're the proud parents of Hailey (10) and quadruplets too! Brennan, Landon, Katelyn and Brooklyn (7) born 23 weeks 1 day, and Owen (3 in December). I work for Central Michigan 2-1-1 a really cool program to help connect the community, helping people find nonprofit resources they need. We're so blessed!